Ohio GOP moves to keep college-athlete amendment

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republicans have tabled an attempt by Democrats to scrap a change made to a state budget bill clarifying that college athletes are not employees under state law.

The GOP-dominated House committee added the idea on Monday. It comes after last month’s landmark decision by a National Labor Relations Board official involving the Northwestern University football team. The ruling says full scholarship players can be considered employees and thus can form a union. If the ruling holds up, it could have widespread repercussions in the multibillion-dollar college sports industry.

Republican Committee Chairman Ron Amstutz (AHM’-stuts) has said the change could have little effect. But he says if it comes up, it will be in the law.